By the time U.S. Surgeon General Vice Adm. Vivek H. Murthy launched his “Step it Up” walking campaign last month, the greater Toledo area had already been making significant strides with numerous walking initiatives.
Toledo’s efforts mirror that of the surgeon general: to push for more walkable communities and for Americans to become more active by engaging in what is probably the easiest and cheapest healthy activity.
Toledo area schoolchildren, senior citizens, and those in between have numerous places to walk — schools, parks, neighborhoods — and there are many efforts to keep everyone walking. Even so, be sure to check with the doctor first.
“Walking is free,” said Celest Smith, of the Toledo Lucas County Office of Minority Health, a part of the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department which heads Healthy Lucas County’s walking programs.
“I believe in taking baby steps,” said Ms. Smith, citing easy ways to start, such as not parking close to the door when shopping or visiting the doctor, and taking the stairs when possible.
Parents who think there’s no way to take walks because they have children shouldn't bother Ms. Smith with that line.
“I talk to parents about activities around their house. Just marching at home on a rainy day, or going outside to walk around the perimeter of your house,” are easy and cost-free activities, she said.
Ms. Smith prefers not to use the E-word — exercise — because it frightens people. Besides, she says you should use what you have to accomplish activity goals.
“We have cans of soup and vegetables that are weighted,” she said. Put those or a bag of sugar in your hands while moving around the house instead of going out to buy weights. Additionally, with all the rage about certain expensive electronic devices that record your steps, there are pedometers, which some health-care facilities give away, or else they cost very little.
Jan Ruma, vice president of the Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio and executive director of Toledo-Lucas County CareNet, said a 2013-14 county community health assessment found that 70 percent of residents are overweight or obese, “which puts people at elevated risk for developing heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions.” She said it doesn't take a lot to get in a good walk.
“Even incorporating short walks around the block or a parking lot, during lunch, while running errands, or at other times during the day are beneficial, and ideally people will build up on the time they commit to exercise and their health,” Ms. Ruma said.
Going outside to walk requires care, no matter where you live. If walking in the neighborhood is your preference, Lt. Joe Heffernan of the Toledo Police Department said find a partner to walk with because there's always safety in numbers.
“Daytime versus nighttime, you would be safer in daytime hours,” he said. “As you are walking, have situational awareness, which is looking around and paying attention to your surroundings. If you see someone or a group of people that you think might be suspicious, try to avoid them or cross the street or go a different way. Your instincts are usually correct.”
Whether to carry an item for personal protection is an individual decision, he said, adding that the item could be anything from a whistle to a firearm.
“Dogs are excellent walking companions and a great crime deterrent,” he said. “It doesn't matter what type of dog; even little ankle biters. You are less likely to be a victim if you have a dog with you.”
Daylight Saving Time arrives Nov. 1, so those who walk outside want to be especially aware if they take strolls in the evening. Lieutenant Heffernan suggests reflective tape on clothing to be visible to motorists.
“You can buy LED lights that are very light and you can get them to flash,” he added. “You have to know the rules of the road. You have to be careful.”
Toledoans who want to go a little further from home might consider some of the nearly two dozen neighborhood parks with walking trails that total about 20 miles. Lisa Ward, the city’s acting commissioner of the division of parks, recreation, and forestry, said that among the more popular parks are Ottawa Park, the largest city park with 3.5 miles of walking trails, and Pinkley in Point Place, which has 1.2 miles of walking trails. The park with the shortest trail is Navarre, with a 0.07 mile walkway.
Also preferred by area residents are the Metroparks, which make up another one of this region’s jewels with 11 sites open daily and several others in various stages of development, said Scott Carpenter of the Metroparks.
“In addition, Toledo Botanical Garden is also under the Metroparks umbrella. It also has walking paths,” he said. “The Metroparks has more than 100 miles of trails. Every park has walking trails. Our surveys show that trails are by far the most popular feature of the park system.”
Among the Metroparks within easy reach for city dwellers are Swan Creek, which has entrances off Airport Highway between Byrne Road and Eastgate Road, and off Glendale Avenue between Byrne and Eastgate. The other is Wildwood Preserve, which is off West Central Avenue.
Northwest Ohio also has other programs to encourage the public to walk. For example, Toledo Public Schools is among the districts that boasts the Walking School Bus, in which more than one adult walks a group of children to and from school. The effort helps to keep youngsters safe, urges them to be healthy, and lets them have fun while walking.
Speaking of schools, the Northwest Ohio Area Office on Aging, in conjunction with TPS lets seniors walk the hallways at Bowsher and Waite high schools between 3:30 and 5 p.m. TPS also welcomes all citizens to walk the outdoor running tracks at Bowsher and Start in the daytime, but only during summer. Additionally, Maumee residents are invited to walk indoors at some Maumee schools.
While there are numerous causes that ask supporters to walk to raise public awareness and funds for health matters, walking for one’s own individual health is important too. The walkwithadoc.org website lists 100 reasons to walk, including to reduce heart attacks, blood pressure, and cholesterol, and also to increase weight loss.
It also states that walking helps to manage arthritis, enhances mood, boosts immune system functioning, and reduces stress.
Here are some other local initiatives to get and keep this community moving:
■ The Toledo Area Metroparks “Good Health is Just a Walk in the Park” program that began in September is at Wildwood at noon Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
■ There is an organized walking program at Historic Woodlawn Cemetery on Central Avenue.
■ Live Well Greater Toledo promotes healthy eating and an active lifestyle.
“Eating healthy is part of that too,” Ms. Smith said of the Minority Health program. “Take baby steps to introduce yourselves to a new fruit and vegetable, if not weekly then on a monthly basis, and try something you have not tried before.”
Contact Rose Russell at: rrussell@theblade.com or 419-724-6178.
First Published October 19, 2015, 4:00 a.m.
